dendrite

plural dendrites

1. biologyA slender projection of a nerve cell which conducts nerve impulses from a synapse to the body of the cell; a dendron.

   A typical brain neuron has perhaps a thousand little wires, called dendrites, which connect it with its fellows.

   1979, Carl Sagan, “Can We Know the Universe? Reflections on a Grain of Salt”, in John Carey, editor, Eyewitness to Science, Harvard University Press, published 1997, page 437

   1 more example

   Little copses of television antennas. Whiplike, graceful thrilling metal dendrites drawing images from the air, bringing brotherhood, communion to immured apartment people.

   1970, Saul Bellow, Mr. Sammler’s Planet, Greenwich, CT: Fawcett, 1971, Chapter 1, pp. 12–13 (online edition)

2. biologySlender cell process emanating from the cell bodies of dendritic cells and follicular dendritic cells of the immune system.
3. chemistryTree-like structure of crystals growing as material crystallizes
4. historicalA hermit who lived in a tree.